CHOGM is scheduled to take place in the week starting from 20th June 2022.
The meeting was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but was postponed twice due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealth’s highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next summit when they met in London in 2018.
During preparations of CHOGM, the University of Rwanda received Rwf4.2 billion in this fiscal year to clear debts related to the renovation of Kigali Convention Exhibition Village as one of venues to host the meeting.
Under the revised national budget, Rwanda allocated more Rwf600 million for efficient execution of related activities. This means, related works might be completed at a cost of Rwf4.8 billion.
Meanwhile, the revised budget allocated Rwf4.7 billion to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including funds for preparations of the meeting.
As part of preparations of CHOGM, roads have been constructed in different parts of Kigali expected to reduce traffic jam during the meeting.
These include Gasabo – Sports View Hotel – Airtel road that has been completed among others.
More roads from Alpha Palace to Kabeza, Rwandex-Unilak-Sonatubes, Rwandex – mu Myembe – Kigali Convention Centre and Mulindi to Rusororo were built to decongest traffic.
Kigali International Airport also underwent renovations to increase parking space for aircraft and passengers lounge at the terminal.
Hotels have been also prepared to be able to offer the best customer experience as they serve guests attending the meeting.
Through a statement released on Monday 31st January 2022, President Paul Kagame welcomed participants of the meeting expected to discuss, among other things, ways to address COVID-19 related challenges.
“Rwanda is pleased to welcome all delegates and participants to Kigali for a safe and productive CHOGM Rwanda 2022. The last two years have made it clear to us that we are more connected than ever before and we must work together to achieve the tangible and sustainable results we want. The long awaited meeting will be an important occasion to come together to address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to build on innovative technological and economic opportunities to solve other key problems facing our citizens,” he said.
The Secretary-General Scotland also expressed delight that the meeting is set to take place following years of adjournment.
“I am delighted that the Commonwealth family can finally be reunited, four years on from our last CHOGM in London. Our meetings in Rwanda will give us a real opportunity to reaffirm the values that bind the Commonwealth together and focus on vital issues, including the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling climate change and poverty, boosting trade and promoting sustainable development – all issues that can only be dealt with decisively through multilateral cooperation and mutual support,” she stated.
The upcoming CHOGM due in Kigali will be the first to be held in Africa for over a decade.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-two of members are small states, many of which are island nations.
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